Tool for replacing machine belts



N. DAVIS. TOOL FdR REPLACING MACHiNE BELTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20,1920.

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' i V 2 llI- 4? f 45 fi fim Altorney w UNITED STATES PATENT fii 'FltiEr TOOL F035, REPLACING IVIACHINE BELTS.

Application filed July 20, 1920.

folk and State of Massachusetts, have in-- vented a new and useful Tool for Replacing lilachine Belts, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the ac companying drawing, forming part thereof.

My invention relates to tools for replacing machine belts which have become freed from the driving wheels, the object being to afford the operator, from a standing position, a means with which to reach in under the work bench to and. about the driving wheel on the countenshaft for reengaging and resetting the freed belt in operative position therewith; thus eliminating the present hand replacing method which requires the operator to assume a cramped and dangerous position under the bench for replacing the freed belt onto the driving pulley. The tool provides a rapid and eflective means for replacing machine belts on power driven pulleys, particularly such as are customarily employed in stitchingshops and the like, and absolntely removes the element of danger and inconvenience attending the usual hand method practiced in said shops.

To these as well as other ends my invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts described in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

The terms employed herein are used in the generic and descriptive sense to designate the elements illustrated, and are therefore not primarily intended as terms of limitation.

In order to illustrate my invention, I have shown an embodiment thereof, without being limited thereto, wherein Fig. 1 represents an elevational. view showing my device in the act of replacing a freed belt;

. Fig 2 represents a sectional view taken on line 2 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal sectional view taken through the handle end of the device;

Fig. 4t represents a side elevational View of the belt engaging mechanism of the device;

Fig. 5 represents a plan view of the belt Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

Serial No. 397,662.

engaging mechanism of the device with the top casing removed therefrom;

P g. 6 represents a sectional. view taken on line 6-6 onFig. 5;

l! 7 represents the same view as F1g. 0, but showsthe belt clamp of the device in open posit1on;

1* 1g. 8 represents the same view as Fig. 6, but shows the belt clamp open and corresponding to the Fig. 7 position thereof.

I l 1g. 9 represents a sectional view takenon line 9-9 on F1g. 1;

Fig. 10 represents a side vlew of the handle of the device;

F g. 11 represents a sectional view taken on l ne ll11'0n Fig. 6; and

F g. 12 represents a sectional view taken on line 12-12 on Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral (Fig. 1) represents my device in its entirety,

which in the main comprises the belt clamp end 2i and the operating or handle end 22 on the opposite ends of the extension rod or tube 23.

2t represents the lmvercasing member of the belt clamp mechanism of the device. which preferably Carries the fixed clamp aw 25 projecting from the side thereof and provided with the pulley engaging lip 26 and. the belt recess 27 shown in Fig. t3. (laid lower casing member 24; provided with the transverse slot 28, in which the tongue 29 of the movable jaw member 80 is slidablv held (Figs. 6, 8 and 11). ll represents nit clamping jaw of said movable jaw member which is also provided with the lip 32 and beltrccess 33 similar to that provided. on the fixed jaw Said, movable jaw member is further provided with the elongated aperture 3e; through the sides thereof, the end spring chamber 37 the top lug 36, and the lower slot :37. i sion spring which is cornered in the spring recess of the movable jaw member il and makes purchase on its exposed cud against the lower casing 21- and the upper casing 39 in a recess 40 provided therebetween (as shown in (3). shaped substantially similar to the lower casing 2d and has provided therein the slot %l-l through which the movable aw member 30 is allowed to operate. Both said casing members 24 and 39 are designed to be associated together to form, a unit casing, as

238 represents an expam Said upper casing 39 is will be understood 'l'rom the drawings; each is preferably turned down and threaded'to form a nipple 4.2, which fits within the end of the extension member 23 (Figs. it and and the threaded portion 4:8, which receives and carries the union or coupling nut lfl which securely .igages with said extension member 23 the unit casing formed from said casing members 2%. and 39. represents a bell-crank which is pivotally set on the stud 46 and has the arm 45? straddling the inorable jaw member 30, as shown. in Figs. 5, 6 and 12, and engaging with the lug 36 and the slot 37 thereof. 4L8 represents the other arm of said bell-crank 45, which is preferably provided with the forked end (Fig. 4) to which is secured the connectingwire or cord 49 which passes through the neck opening 50 provided. therefor in the aforesaid unit casing. Said connecting wire 49 is encased in said extensionmember 23 (Fig. 1) and engages on the opposite end thereof with the clamp operating lever or trigger member 51, which preferably is slidably mounted in the parted type of handlemember comprising the similar handle casing halves 52 and 53 which are turned down and threaded at 54c and 55 to permit the nipple to fit within the extension member 23 and the threaded portion to engage the union or coupling nut 56 in a similar man- 'ner to that already explained in connection with the unit clamp casing secured to the opposite end of the device. J

The handle halves 52 and are preterably made hollow (Fig. 3) and are designed with the slots 57 which accommodate the tongues provided on the sides of the trigger member 51 (Fig. 10) and the side trigger slots 58 which allow for a slidable feature to said trigger 51 in relation to-the handle of the device.

The ends of the extension member 23 which are preferably made tubular, are flared (as shown in Figs. 3 and 5) after the union nuts 44: and 56 are set on to the tube in opposed manner, as will be understood.

In Fig. 1 P represents the driving pulley which has the annular belt groove G and.

which is supported on and driven by the counter-shaft S. T represents the table or bench, B the i'reed belt, F the floor, t the usual clutch provided on power driven sewing machines and which is operated by the knee action of the operator seated at the machine, and M represents the sewing machine head supported on the table T and driven by the belt B.

Having thus described the parts o-l my invention in detail, the manner in which the same may be employed is as follows:

First, it will be noted that the extension member 23 may be made of any desired length, and is preferably hooked up on the clamp end, as shown in Fig. 1, with the jaws positioned upward, when it will be understood that the tool will permit of getting in under the counter-shaft S and reaching around the rear of the pulley P conveniently and without making it necessary for the operator to stoop over to do so, as the straight type of extension member would naturally require.

Secondly, it will be noted that the function of the expansion spring 38 is to normally close the movable jaw member 30 against the fixed jaw 25, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which position of the movable jaw the trigger 51 correspondingly assumes the full position shown in Fig. 3. Thus it will be understood that by moving said trigger ol'trom said full position (Fig. towards the opposite end of the handle, as indicated by the dotted position shown in said Fig. 3, the bell-crank 45 correspondingly operated and results in forcing the movable jaw member 30 against said spring 38 so that thesame becomes compressed, as shown in Fig. 5, when the opening between thG'jZLWSOl the clamping member 21 may be regulated to suit the wishes of the operator, all of which may be efi ected through the manipulation of the trigger 51. oil the handle 22 of the device.

Hence, to replace a freed belt onto the driving pulley P, which is power driven and which is being rotated while the belt B is being replaced, the operator takes hold of the within described tool in a manner like that shown in Fig. 1, where the first and second fingers straddle and engage with the trigger 51. The operator withdraws the trigger 51 to the dotted position shown in Fig. 3, 'which opens the clamp jaws similar to that shown in Figs. 7 and 8; the beltB is then allowed to enter between said jaws and the trigger 51 is released so that the belt becomes gripped in the jaws, as shown in Fig. 9. With the belt thus held in the clamp oil": the device, the operator engages the lip 26 and 32' of the jaws with the groove (3- of the pulley P, and thus locates the tool with the pulley. lVith the tool so guided in-the groove of the pulley, the operator is able to set a sufiicient length of belt into the groove of the pulley to make purchase. therewith, as shown in Fig. 1, when the frictional pull against the belt which. is due to the rotation of the pulley, becomes noticeable and felt by the operator at the supporting end of the tool. There after the trigger 5]. is manipulated suiliciently to open the jaws of the clamp to liberate the belt so that the same is freed to hug the pulley and towork itself into the groove thereof; meanwhile the clamp end of the tool is manipulated by the operator around the pulley in the direction of the rotation thereof with the jaws held open but set against the groove to guide the belt therein. The belt is thus forced to hug the pulley and soon assumes its reset position therewith. The tool is then withdrawn from the pulley and the operation is complete.

It will thus appear obvious that through the medium of the within type of tool the operator is afforded a means with which to reset machine belts rapidly and effectively from the standing position, whereby the work of replacing freed belts, which are a common source of annoyance inworkshops, as stitching shops for example, is greatly facilitated and the element of danger of having clothing or hair caught by the power driven counter shaft S or parts carried thereon, as has been known to happen, is entirely eliminated. it is a known fact, especially in large shops employing girls and women as stitchers. that a. man is specially employed to care for belt troubles, since the belts leave the drive wheels repeatedly and require constant resetting.

The machine operator must necessarily stand idle while the belt replacing is going said operating being invariably done by hand. By means of the within device the operator herself, without being required to crouch in under the table or bend to get at the pulley, is enabled to replace the belt in quick order and proceed with her work on the machine.

The work of replacing the belt thus greatly simplified by the device and posscsses advantages which are obviously beneficial, both from a financial and from a humane point of view.

The device itself is simple in construction and may be safely and effectively operated by persons of average intelligence; thus serving a long felt want in stitching shops where the belt problem is most perplexing and where uncalled for accidents have resulted by relying on the hand method heretofore mentioned.

ll hile the preferred embodiments of my invention have been. described in detail, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction set forth, since various changes in the form, n1aterial and proportions, and in the details of construction may be resorted to without dc- 'iarting from the spirit and scope of the invention, or destroying any of the ad "antages contained in the same, heretofore described and defined in the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention in detail, what I claim as new is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a tubular hooked extension member; a clamp member secured to the hooked end of said extension member and having the jaws thereof upturned, the same being recessed to accommodate a belt therebetween and terminating in guide lips for locating and guiding the clamp member in relation to the belt pulley groove; a supporting handle secure to the opposite end of said extension member having a trigger member slidably operated therein; and coupling means housed in said extension member and coupling said trigger member with said clamp member for operating the latter to engage or disengage the belt to be handled by the device.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a hollow extension member; a. clamp member adapted to be secured to an end of said extension member and having a fixed and a movable jaw, and provided with controlling means for variably positioning the latter jaw in relation to the fixed jaw; a handle member adapted to be secured to the opposite end. of said extension member and provided with a clamp operating member; and means enclosed in said hollow extension member coupling said clamp operating member with the jaw controlling means for operating the clamp member from the handle end of the device.

A. device of the character described, comprising a hollow extension member; a casing member secured to an end of said extension member provided with a fixed jaw and a movable coacting jaw; means provided in said casing member for controllably positioning the latter jaw in relation to the former jaw; a handle member positioned on the opposite end of said extension memher and having a controlling lever provided thereon; coupling means engaging said lever with said movable clamping aw positioning means for variably controlling said movable jaw, in relation to said fixed jaw, from the handle end of the device.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a hollow extension member; acasing member having an offset belt clamping member and comprising a fixed and a movable jaw; a spring adapted normally to hold the movable jaw in closed position with the fixed jaw, and a bell-crank member pivotally secured in. said casing and having one arm thereof engaging with said movable jaw for relatively positioning the same with the other jaw of said casing member; means coupling said casing member with said holy low extension member; an operating handle provided with a clampcontrolling lever and means for securing same to the opposite end of said extension member; and a connecting member encased in said hollow extension member, adapted to couple said clamp contralling lever with the other arm of said bell-crank member for variably controlling the clamping member of the device. In witness whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature this seventeenth day of July, 1920. NATHAN DAVIS. 

